This is a unique and refreshing find among fantasy novels. So often, they are the same recycled world and drama. It is such a cute and quaint story. It is a historical fiction fantasy set in the Regency period of the English countryside but with a twist—magic exists. However, magic seems to be slowly disappearing, with science leading the way for reason.

Fern lives a life between the stuffy rules of nobility and commoners. Our MFC takes center stage as events and mysterious problems run amuck in a neighboring country estate. The reader goes along on this journey as she works through balancing the old ways and the new. The author hints at future possible stories, and I am all in. I plan to follow the author so I can continue the adventure. I highly recommend it to all readers, especially those needing something different.

4.2/5 Stars

A fantasy tale when magic and dragons are dying out yet still exist. Bowing out of society and living with her two uncles , Fern Oakby makes her living as an experienced botanist. While on a consulting job at a nearby estate she meets Millicent the owner’s interesting sister during a violent thunderstorm. The next morning when the storm has passed its left behind strange magic both good and bad that Millicent inadvertently created.
A fun quick easy read I throughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lovely cozy fantasy story and a lovely start to a new series. I loved the initial premise of a botanist discovering a carnivorous plant and trying to save a tiny origami dragon that is inexplicably connected to this plant. Fern is an absolutely lovely main character who is smart, loving and full of charm. She is determined but also practical and was a joy to read about. She also has a lovely family dynamic that added so much warmth to the story and the dragons in the story are so cute and sweet.

The plot was cozy and intimate similar in vibe and style to T. Kingfisher's Nettle and Bone. The carnivorous plant added a bit of a horror dynamic without making the entire book feel like horror. I think the story also left lots of space for future instalments to expand the world and further develop the characters. I also expect that future books will contain a found family, animal companions and a potential slow burn romance that I am really looking forward to. Overall, this was a very fun read.